It's commonly accepted that protein intake is essential for meeting the nutritional demands of muscle protein synthesis (MPS) after resistance training. However, there has been ongoing discussion regarding the significance of timing and distribution of protein intake in muscle protein metabolism.
Research indicates that while the distribution of protein intake throughout the day is crucial, timing may not be as impactful in influencing MPS following resistance training.
The distribution of protein intake plays a significant role in MPS due to metabolic constraints on protein utilization before processes like ureagenesis and amino acid oxidation occur. Studies exploring the effects of both pre- and post-workout protein supplementation have failed to demonstrate a significant impact of timing on MPS or muscle hypertrophy. Instead, the distribution of protein intake across meals appears to be a more influential factor in optimizing muscle protein metabolism in response to resistance training.